Diving board apparatus



Jan. 1s, 1938.

C. W. SIRCH DIVING BOARD APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1936 TES DIVING BOARD APPARATUS Charles W. Sirch,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January z, 1936, serial No. 57,192

12 Claims.

This invention relates to spring boards and particularly to those with adjustable fulcrums. Recent sanitary regulations for controlling the operation of swimming pools and spring boards require that the board shall have a certain minimum angle of inclination to insure proper drainage from it. It is sometimes necessary for a diver in a diving exhibition to adjust the fulcrum of the diving board himself and in one adjustable diving board that has come into limited use the construction is such as to cause delay in making the adjustment and to make the diver appear more or less ludicrous on account of the fact that he is obliged to balancehimself on one foot at the side of the board (to relieve the'board of his weight) while he must simultaneously rotate an adjusting crank with his other foot to adjust the fulcrum. An object of my invention is to provide a diving board construction in which the fulcrum can readily be adjusted while `the divers weight is on the board; also to provide a construction in which the requisite inclination of the board will be maintained in any position of the fulcrum.

A further object is to provide a fulcrum which will support the board and facilitate flexing of the board Without providing spongy crevices for accumulation of water. This is particularly necessary because extraordinary corrosion menaces rv the operativeness and safety of apparatus upon the parts of which chlorinous water, peculiar to the modern sanitary swimming pool, drips from bathing suits, feet etc. Free chlorine to the amount of five-tenths part per million is mandatory in swimming pool water under public health regulations, an even stronger solution being compulsory for immersion of the feet of bathers. Naturally, the mere appearance of the eiects of corrosion upon parts which are not of massive construction militates against the condence and poise which are most important elements of the divers performance.

A further object is to provide a construction in which both the lock and the actuating means may be operated in an accustomed human manner by grasping a lever. This is desirable for co-operation with the eiorts now being made by sanitarians to prevent the spread of Widely prevalent foot-diseases. Of course infection preventive measures, such as immersion in the (significantly) strong chlorine solution mentioned, are of limited benet if, nevertheless, a diver may contract the disease in pawing a knurled wheel or treadle. It is also desirable for adequate functioning of the diving board in championship contests and thereby preventing embarrassment which is frequently occasion by peculiar mob-psychology reactions during the expectant hush with which the appearance of a contender is greeted. Manual operation of a lever is accepted as a more dignied or normal act than treadwheel operation with the bare, often slippery, feet, especially during a wait when this diversion, for some reason, seems unusually provocative.

A further object is to provide a construction which can be Aoperated Without requiring the diver to turn around to face the tip of the board; also to enable operation by a person when standing on the oor, as the coach.

A further object is to provide a fulcrum, or fulcrum-assembly, so constructed as to be adapted to be moved or operated. without sliding, rubbing or scraping either the board or fulcrum or supporting track or treadle and yet L without requiring the removal of any weight from any of these. This is important because, as the average spring board Weighs about 300 pounds, friction, Wear, deformity and consequentinaccuracy result from sliding, as may occur when the board is being flexed-a slight deformity effecting an even greater deviation at the tip of the board.

A further object is to provide a support for a diving board which is free from the constructional, operating, repair or replacement diculties which are inherent in the irregular or multiple inclined plane structures.

Further objects will appear from the specication.

The invention resides in the combination of the elements, arrangement of the parts and in the details of construction, as hereinafter specified and then claimed with'reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment of my invention, and in which- Fig. l is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the portion of a swimming pool which is adjacent to its surrounding wall and illustrating the part of the promenade or iloor which supports apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse side-elevational view, partly in section, approximately r Cil structure and operation vof theinvention and the incidental parts thereof.

In Fig. 1 the springboard is shown inclined at the definite angle which was universally ordained by the vested omcial regulatory bodies for the standard slope of diving boards. Also ordained is a dimension, represented by II, known as the omcial height, which is the required distance between the tip of the board and the water.

Novel means for maintaining the oficial height and slope when the fulcrum is shifted are provided by elements in which the concentrated stresses, produced by the violent flexion of the board, are borne by massive, durable members, instead of a multiplicity of slender, sliding parts, the strength of which diminishes rapidly as the repeated scraping exposes the metal tothe corrosion. 'I'he moving parts, upon which the diver's safety, aid and assurance depend, are adapted for continuing, easy, smooth operativeness, thereby promoting frequent shifting of the fulcrum, consequently conserving the fibrous structure of the board.

In the drawing the concrete slab 23, forming the iloor around the pool, is used as a foundation and anchor bolts 24, imbedded therein and passing through lugs 25, amxed to the legs 5-I4, provide a iixed base for the rectangular, rigid, bench-like baseframe of which the legs 5-I4 are the vertical, and 6 22 the horizontal members. This base-frame is adapted to be made anywhere of suitable construction materials, treated or coated for resisting corrosion. The butt of the springboard l may be drilled and clamped to the horizontal member 22 together with the adapters or spacers I3 by means of a clamping bar 2|, adapted to receive bolts 2li extending through the fixed end of the board, adapters I2 and the horizontal member 22.

Novel means of supporting the flexible end of the board are provided. Thefhorizontal members l may be constructed of Z-section material which is adapted to serve as a guide, track and rack for the wheels l, which are preferably fixedly mounted, as by the key I1, on the fulcrum-shaft I. The board 9 is supported by the fulcrumdrum Il, rotatably mounted upon the fulcrumshaft I, by means of the bearings I6, retainers 2l and pins 3i, so that the fulcrum may be rolled along the board by rolling the wheels I along the parallel horizontal members 6. In making an adjustment the path of the 'fulcrumshaft I is kept parallel with the specified slope of the board by the eccentric shape of wheels 3, curved for continuous motion between maximum and minimum radii. To prevent the wheels l from skidding and for centering or aligning the wheels I on the horizontal member 6, correlative engaging means are provided on these members. These may consist of pins 33 projecting from the horizontal member 6 and adapted to t in to correlativa openings 34 in the wheels 3. The advantages which my fulcrum-drum affords in the preservation and improved action of a lspringboard by yielding to rotative motion and by reducing the concentration of shearing stresses are of general importance in the efficient functioning of a diving board. My fulcrum-drum, whether divided as shown or in a single unit, is adapted to present to the board the optimum support, in other words, a relatively long arc of contact, such as shall co-operate with the characteristics of the wood during its iiexion, together with a rotatable, yet xed, reliable support. 'I'he wood from which springboards are made is of a very limited variety and the expense of selecting and conditioning the flawless hearts of lelected growth makes them costly. The mechanical life oi' the best of these boards, when the! are subjected to much use and to the abrupt g shearing against a slender fulcrum is only a few months, according to service records. My fulcrum, by prolonging the mechanical life of the springboard, reducesexpense of replacements and the frequency of such possible casualties as may occur from a heavy, sheared board, particularly when the board falls from a tower.

Novel means are provided to prevent jamming, such as may occur at either terminus of the range of an adjustable fulcrum; also to indicate the position which the fulcrum occupies in this range: also to lock the fulcruming means at this position. I conne horizontal movement of the fulcruming means within the range required for fulcruming (which, in practice, is short compared to the length of the board) preferably by the rigid bumper-frame 2 iixedly disposed along the horizontal member I; thereby wheels 3 and the handle of lever 21 are stopped at either terminus of the range. The vertical surfaces within frame 2 stop lever 21, which contains latch-pin I I, from being pulled too far over. Part of the bumperframe forms aquadrant, notched for holding the pin II for springlatching the fulcruming means. Lever 21, wherever it may be stopped or positioned always points toward the fulcruming line of the springboard.

Novel means are provided to wheel the fulcrum along the board while the diver is standing safely with his two feet on the board and without lifting the board from its operable position. In other words, fulcruming is accomplished thereby lwhile the fulcrum is supporting the combined weights of the board and the diver and the diver is saved from the peculiarly upsetting requirement of having to use his one foot to destroy his equilibrium on the other in cranking. The forked lever arm I2 is rigidly radially mounted upon shaft 4. Shaft 4 is supported by vertical members 5, which have openings 2l therethrough, constituting bearing surfaces. Shaft 4 has pins 32 therethrough to position it in vertical members 5. The tubular lever 27 is rigidly alxed, by the bolt 26, to the bent end of shaft 4, which, together with the tubular lever is bored for the bolt. The free end of lever 21 is shaped to iit the voperators hand; its hollow interior conducts the push-rod 1 for the latchpin II, afilxed thereto, up through the handleshaped end 8 so that it may be pressed by the thumb of the operator to release the latch-pin II. The lever 21 may be of any length sumcient for convenient and easy operation. It has a slot 30 for the latch-'pin II; also perforations for the pin I9 which supports the compressed spring w i I8 to lock the latch pin in the notches in 2.

It will now be readily understood from the above, that when it is desired to shift the fulcrum point of the board it is only necessary for the operator or diver to grasp the lever and shift it to the desired point.

In practicing the invention I make the diameter of the fulcrum drum as large as the mechanical characteristics of the board permit. I make the least radius of the eccentric wheel l of 7g the dimension required to give the board the ofiicial height and slope when supported upon the fulcrum at the point, within its range, nearest the tip; and I make the greatest radius of the wheel 3 of the dimension required to give the 15 6. In a diving board apparatus, the combina board the oiiicial height and slope when supported upon the fulcrum at the point within its range nearest the butt. And, as already stated, I shape the curve of the eccentric between these radii for continuous motion.

It will be understood from the above that when the fulcrum is moved along the horizontal member G the board 9 will be supported at the same elevation and inclination regardless of the position oi. the fulcrum within its range. Also that the board is always in operable position. The hand-operated lever is particularly adapted for the purpose, both because of the short range within which springboards need fulcruming in practice and for the sanitary requirements mentioned. Definite, easy, quiet fulcruming when the lever is shifted is an assured result of rolling the fulcrum; also better resilience of the board and aid to the diver.

An important advantage oi' the invention is that it is adapted for convenient and safe shipment to, and quick installation in, the remote' or widely scattered regions where diving boards are used, for example countries where the Olympic events are held.

- It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asl desirable in the statement o! the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modiiication in the various particulars without departing from the spirit or-scope of the invention, or sacriiicing any of its advantages.

I claim:

l. In a diving board apparatus, the combination oi a base-frame structure having horizontal lengthway surfaces; a springboard, means for securing one end of said board to saidY frame, a combined eccentric and fulcrum assembly movably supported by said horizontal surfaces and movable along under said board to support the same, and means for moving said fulcrum assembly along said horizontal surface and said board while supporting the weight of the board and diver.

2. In a diving-board apparatus assembly, a cylindrical fulcrum for supporting the board and f having a co-axial eccentric member.

3. In a diving board assembly, an eccentric fulcrum to support said board.

4. In 'a diving board apparatus, eccentric means to maintain a substantially ilxed position oi' the board in any position of the fulcrum.

5. In a. diving board apparatus, a frame structure, means for securing one end oi' said board to said trame. a horizontal track, a fulcrum member mounted on said track and adapted to support said board at a constant angle from the hor- ,izontal and at predetermined intermediate points, and means for moving said fulcrum member along said track while said board, including the `weight oi?. the diver. is resting upon said Crum..

tion oi' a spring board held iixed at one end, supporting means having a substantially horizontal surface extending. lengthwise and below the board, anda fulcrum member, said fulcrum member supporting the board and having turnable eccentric supports resting upon said horizontal surface.

7. In a spring board apparatus for diving, a base frame having substantially horizontal members extending lengthwise of said board, means for securing said board at one end to said frame, a combined cylindrical and eccentric fulcrum member mounted upon said horizontal member and adapted to support said board near its middle, and means for moving said fulcrum member along said horizontal members and said board.

' 8. In a. spring board apparatus, in combination, a spring board adapted to be rigidly .secured at one end, a. base, and a movable fulcrum between the base and the board comprising a combined eccentric and cylindrical member.

9. In a spring board apparatus, in combination, a spring board adapted to be rigidly secured at one end, a base having a substantially horizontal top surface positioned ybeneath the mlddle part oi the under surface of the board and an interposed combined eccentric and cylindrical fulcrum adapted to be moved along the base, the eccentric portions engaging one surface and the cylindrical portion the other surface, and means i'or moving the eccentric while standing upon the board.

10. In a spring board apparatus, in combina tion, a spring board adapted to be rigidly secured at one end, a base having a substantially horlzontal top positioned beneath the middle part of the board and an interposed combined eccentric andv cylindrical fulcrum adapted to be moved along the base, the eccentric portions engaging the base and the cylindrical portion the under side of the board.

11. In a spring board apparatus, in combination, a spring board having one end securely anchored, a base frame having a substantially horizontal top positioned beneath the middle portion of the board, and a movable fulcrum interposed between the top of the base and theunder side of the board, said fulcrum com' rising a cylindrical portion engaging the boar and eccentric portions engaging the top of the base, and means for rotating said fulcrum to move it along the upper surface of the base.

12. In a diving board apparatus, the combinae tion of a base frame structure having substantially horizontal track surfaces,.a spring-board above and approximately parallel to said sur- CHARIESMSIRCH.. 

